Free day in Gulu

No pictures, everything is too slow, maybe next week.

Yesterday was a very fulfilling day and I got to really do a lot of things that I have been wanting to do since I got up here. The plan was for everyone to spend the day with their cooperating teacher, but since my placement is so far away they could not stay and instead David and I had Alfred and John (David’s guy) over for breakfast. It is funny they came and laughed and how the place looked and food we ate because it was “muzungu” food. We sent them on their way and I look forward to getting up to Atanga on Monday. So I had the rest of the day to get things done and had time to myself as the rest of the people were with their teachers all day. We did not see half the group today, as they are staying somewhere else and it was a little weird to not see them. We have become a nice little family and it just felt like something was missing all day. In this environment you look for a little routine or familiarity and that was lost a little without some of the people that I have grown to be close with.

David and I went exploring in town and got a bunch of supplies for our journey up to Atanga. We are still really unsure what to expect and without a peace agreement, I am a little nervous to go up there, but it will also be an experience solely mine and something that is very different from everyone else who came to Uganda with me. You need to understand that Gulu is almost all dirt roads and is very tight and congested, but as David and I were in the market ( and I mean real deal open market, it is great), we saw an amazing parade. About two hundred people wearing Manchester United gear were dancing, marching and singing through the streets. I have video it is hilarious. Supposedly on the other side of town, there was an Arsenal one, this place is nuts. After that, I went out on my own and that has been something I have wanted to do for a while. I found a bunch of kids and brought out the Frisbee and many have never played with one before and I spent two hours running around with kids and throwing the Frisbee, it was cool to interact with them. They all ask to be my friend, it is pretty funny, but also extremely heartwarming. When they went in to take lunch, I met up with some people from the first group and went to a house called HEALS, which is a dance house, almost an after school program that promotes Acholi culture through song and dance. Our boy Norman got the kids ready and it was awesome. They warmed up by breakdancing and performing some hip hop dance, which is great. They have seen it on video and emulate it quite well. Then they performed four traditional dances for us. Two royal ones, one where the boys court the girls and one girl only dance for rain. It was unique and I was completely in awe.

That really wrapped up my day. We finally had a night to chill and relax and it was calm with only half the group around the IC house now. I spent a good hour telling them about this year of girls soccer at Waubonsie. They were so interested and amazed at what the girls accomplished this year. I felt very proud to tell them about it and I showed them pictures from state. Go Warriors!! I am looking forward to tomorrow going to St. Judes Hospital here and working with the kids that are stricken with terrible illnesses and diseases. This is my last contact for a week, so I will talk to you all next week.

Meeting my co teacher alfred

June 28, 2008

Yesterday was a very long and interesting day with a lot of things going on as we get ready to head to our placements. In the morning Jon grabbed me and we went searching for an internet café that we heard about. Searching in Gulu is not the easiest thing but we found it and I was able to download some of those pics so know I have to make sure to take better photos which I will be doing today. Jon is about 6’11” so watching him on a boda is hilarious. He constantly makes the driver pop wheelies and it sometimes he has to get off, but it is great. We had an early morning meeting with Huston, who is in charge of all the NGO (Non-Governmental Organizations) coordination explained to us all the different groups that exist within Gulu. There are a lot of groups throughout the world providing aid to the people of Northern Uganda, but we are only one of two at secondary schools and I think we do a wonderful job employing the majority Ugandans to work for IC. It was interesting to hear about all of them, but also he talked to us about the current situation in Northern Uganda. The peace agreement still has not been signed, but there has been relative peace for almost two years now, which is a great sign. There are a lot of factors that are slowing the peace process from disconnection with the leader of the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) Joseph Kony and his negotiators and also constant antagonizing from the government of Uganda. Anyways some people are looking to move from the IDP camps and go home, but some still fear that the LRA will come back.

After that I took lunch at the Bomah café with some of the group. Amy (our leader), Catherine (asst. leader), Danielle, Jo, Bri and myself all went to this place which was super nice, because they had a satellite and I got a little American news. I took a boda home and made a small clip and will try to send it. After that we had meetings all day with Oliker David about the war and from Norman about Acholi song and dance. They were all very interesting as I continue to gain more perspective of the people of Northern Uganda. Many feel so disconnected from the government as President Musevani has continually ignored them in the north.

Finally, the big day came! We went to a place called Kope Café. It was created by people of the IC and all the proceeds go to a dance and music house called HEALS. At the café we met our co-teachers. My guy took a bus an hour and a half to see me, which was so humbling. His name is Alfred (Christian name, they all have Acholi and Christian names), he is 25 and has been teaching for two years. He is pretty funny and very humble. His English is decent and seems very excited and open to have me in the classroom. He is the youngest of all the Ugandan teachers in the exchange and is very excited to have me be a part of Atanga School. All of the teachers sat with their placement and got to know them and started talking about the classes. There will be about 55-60 kids in my classes, but guess what we are studying? North America!!! I’m a prop for the class, so Alfred is super excited. That is like me having a Ugandan to teach about East Africa, I am super excited. We ate and talked and it was a blast. We sent them off and after that created a little dance party at the Kope Café. The group is great and I am a little sad to be separated, but excited for my own opportunity and it will be extremely unique. We walked home in the dark. I would not advise on it, because there are not street lights in Gulu, so there was some tripping and falling going on, but it was a great day. Starting Monday, my blogs will be coming only on weekends because there are no internet places in Atanga. Alfred said he is ready to show this “muzungu” a different side of Uganda and I cannot wait.

"apwooyo tutwal" (thank you very much) to all who have looked at the beginning of a wonderful journey for me.

Bavubuka community center

Just trying to get out some pictures. Look back at the blog to see what I am talking about. This is us at the Bavubuka community center in Kampala. We are teaching them a bunch of getting to know people exercises and I learned a bunch of new things to use in the classroom. All the way to Uganda just to have some professional development.

Liburi school

Kids playing soccer on the campus of Liburi school in Kampala. It was awesome and the kids can play.

I got pics, none of me probably

Dubai ski hill folks, absolutely silly

Getting to know Gulu

June 27, 2008

Yesterday was a whole day of getting to know Gulu and preparing us for the classroom. I am sleeping 2^nd floor on a three level bunk, which is great. We had the P.R. director from Invisible Children meet with us to explain more about what IC is all about and to help make us more informed. It is great to hear that they are continually moving forward and looking for ways to continue to help and that they understand they need to continually progress forward in order to best help out the people of Gulu. It was great to hear that they are providing people with ways to manage money and create jobs. If you have not looked at the bracelet campaign on invisiblechildren.com I would do that, because that is where 100 percent of the scholarship money for the students comes from. After that, we had a lwo language lesson from Dennis and it was very helpful. The language is very fluid and is great. We had to sound so ridiculous to him, but trying to learn a language that we have no base for is so difficult. After that, we went into Gulu to eat and the first walk into town was outrageous. The kids and people definitely stare at you and why wouldn’t they, they rarely see white people and they definitely know when a larger group comes around. The kids are so friendly and when you ask “How are you?”, they all respond “I am fine!” It is pretty funny. I tried to speak a little to them saying words like “apwooyo” (hello), and “kope di?” (How are you?). They respond but all laugh. Lunch was good, but then we got to hear a speech on colonialism in Uganda and the classroom. It was interesting to get a very different point of view.

Finally we got to wonder around town and that was amazing. We went to the market, which has an open food market, tailors, and imported goods like Man U. and Chelsea jerseys. We kind of wandered the streets just getting acclimated, but was great. I did not take any pictures as I try to establish myself a little bit here, and not be a tourist. I will get you some pictures soon on the town. I found an internet café and was able to update the blog and that will be where I come on the weekends. The way home was amazing, because I got to experience my first boda boda ride. The best and most abundant mode of transportation is to ride on the back of a small motorcycle through the dirt roads of Gulu. It is awesome. They are flying in and out of other bodas and cars and are dodging potholes. I will definitely video myself on one, it is hilarious.

Later we ate and talked with each other, which was nice to just kind of detox from all the things that we have been seeing and doing. You really start to forge some relationships with people as you get to know them and that has been a great part of the whole experience as you begin to create some good friendships. Anyways miss you all, take care.

First days in Gulu

Internet is slow, so pictures will come later. Walked through Gulu today, the red dirt really jacks up your clothes and feet, but a reason to be dirty. The beard is growing in nice right now, but here is what has happened so far. Oh yeah, treat all this like a story and characters will be introduced along the way. I am mentioning people like you know them and I am sorry, but whatever this is my blog.

We woke up and went to the Bavubuka community center in Kampala. It is run by the best rapper in Uganda called Bataka. He is in the states half the year and in Uganda the other half. The center was unbelievable. We got to hear what the center was all about and how they are pushing a very positive message and a conscience message about the problems in Uganda. They educate the kids in dance, rap, reading, writing and just seem to provide an unbelievable environment for the kids. Their house was one of the better places I saw in Kampala and while we were there, we taught them a bunch of activities to get the kids to know each other, and I use so many of them as bell ringers in the classroom. It was a great experience and got some wonderful pictures that I will post as soon as I can. They have a website that I would like you guys to look at and I will get it to you soon.

The trip to Gulu was an experience. To say the roads are inadequate is an understatement. To make a normal 4 hour trip takes about six hours because you are constantly stopping, swerving, going on the side of the road to avoid to gigantic potholes that exist on the only real way to get to Gulu. It was a bumpy ride, but we got to see the wonderful geography of Uganda. It is so lush and green and absolutely gorgeous. There are constant huts and small shacks along the way, with a few major villages built in between. The little children along the way are so friendly, waving to us as we went by. As we got close to Gulu, we crossed the Nile, it was absolutely breathtaking. We cross were there are some falls and it was just so surreal to see it. The trip took about a total of six hours and was not that bad at all.

I sat between Jon and Alison and was just cracking up at them the whole time. Jon is constantly doing something to be funny and being almost 7 feet tall, most motions inside a small bus are hilarious. Alison and I were just playing would you rather as we figured out about our different regions of the U.S.

As we arrived to Gulu, I got to see what an IDP camp looked like. We passed two on the way into Gulu. It is pretty strange to see huts so close together, but they did that in order to be safe and not to spread themselves out. While many people are returning to their homes, there are still large populations to not return to their original home. In some cases, the parents return to their original home and the kids stay in the IDP camp, because that is where the school has relocated and that is where they can receive an education. That can cause problems, as the informal foster family can exploit the kids, especially the women.

The IC house is pretty cool. As we rolled up, the place is fenced in and out of the main drag of the city a little bit. We were greeted by group 1 and the interns that have been here for a while and it was nice to be greeted by a good group of people. It has a main house and a room quarters. There is a cook here that created the most amazing little Mexican fiesta for us last night. I will get some pictures right away of the IC house to send out, because it is cool. We got to meet the man, Jamie, who runs the show at the IC house. He lives here year round and that has to be interesting, getting new roommates every couple of weeks. After we ate, we had to send off half the group to the nunnery, as there are only so many rooms here and many are teaching right over there. It was kind of sad, because there has been so much bonding and then these people are gone and it is uncertain how much we will all see each other. Also, the people that I see to get along with the most, Matt A., Alison, Casey and Jo are all staying there. Anyways we will see them today but still it would be nice to be close to everyone. Anyways worn out, I sat around and talked with the group 1 people and there are only six of them, compared to the 21 of us, so there were all at the IC house and it was nice to talk to them a little, as they asked us about what was going on in the states and we started asking about Gulu. Finally, I headed off to bed, having the middle spot on the three level bunk bed with big Matt and Dave. I fell asleep listening to Germany and Turkey play their Euro semifinal, and fell asleep at halftime tied up 1 to 1. I am getting a little nervous about being so remote in Atanga, but everyone seems so excited for myself and Dave. Maybe they are a little nervous for us too and want to keep our spirits high.

Last day in Kampala

This is the last chance I think to blog for a couple of days. The picture solution is working its way out but basically I have to cut down my pics to get them sent properly. Anyways the U.S. embassy was a crazy experience. First as we drove through Kampala, the driving is my style. Only five lights in the whole city, so it works the bigger car/ boda boda (bike taxi) or person gets the right of way. At the embassy we talked with the someone with the education advisor and she kept it pretty real about the problems facing the people in Northern Uganda.

Basically, there is little to invest into it at times, because few see incentives of it, especially for women. Why pay for education of a girl that you will lose when she marries into another family or clan? Along with that, since the civil war in the north, there has been so much displacement it makes things difficult. Schools relocated and buildings were torn down, so it makes it difficult. Many went to IDP (Internally displaced people) camps, and it changed the school structure. This is where I will be teaching. Now many are returning and schools are changing. They stressed the idea of accountability among teachers, parents, and students, something that is also sometimes a problem in the states.

Anways after that went to one of the top schools in Uganda, the Libiri school. It was so large, 3000 kids but the size of a small college campus. I took a bunch of pics and we got to see classes and talk to kids. At their break, they all got out on the soccer pitch and I was aching to get out there, but was in a hurry. I heard there will be plenty of opportunities at the IDP camp so I cannot wait.

Anyways love and miss you all, but this is already way beyond my wildest dreams.

June 24, 2008

So the deal is that you might only get posts on the weekend, because my teaching placement is away from the city of Gulu, about two hours. It is only me and my boy Dave. They drop us off out there on Monday and pick us up on Friday. It is pretty crazy, because everyone else is located at the IC compound together in Gulu. I figure might as well go big or go home so we will see. But will write during the week because we have a generator for a couple of hours out there and when I get to Gulu I will send it out. I will talk more about the school when I get more of a chance later.

So last night we spent the night in a hostel in the capital city Kampala called backpackers. It was pretty nice as far as a hostel goes with quality food and a bar which is always nice. It was interesting to see how many westerners were in the hostel. We met up at Entebbe airport with our leader, Amy. We drove through Entebbe to Kampala with mutatu’s, basically big old vans. First seeing Uganda you see the beauty of it as we drove around Lake Victoria. The lake was absolutely amazing. To see the beauty of Africa is ridiculous. As we drove, there were numerous roadside setups of shops. Mostly shacks with no front to them, you immediately see the state of Uganda. It is really raw, not poor, but raw. The lifestyle is different here. People are used to this lifestyle and many seem to flourish in it. That immediately makes me question at times why we are here, meaning what purpose do westerners have in the country. Things like electricity are something that is a luxury here but does everybody need it? Within Uganda they do a 26 hour electricity on, 22 hours off in order to conserve the limited energy they have here.

I was able to shower this morning, which was nice. I was getting super funky, but that will only get worse as the time goes on, but everyone is that way so it is cool. I continue to talk to people and learn more and more about all the wonderful people that I am with. There seems to be a drive in each one of these individuals to learn and do some good in this world and that is a wonderful thing. I just hope to meet their expectations. I feel a little out of place with the group, but also have been fairly quiet as I try to get a grasp on the fact that I am in Uganda. Today we are still in Kampala. We are going to visit the U.S. embassy here and exchange some money and get prepared for the trip to Gulu. I know I am rambling, but I am just trying to get all my thoughts down, it is such a crazy experience and as I am taking it all in, it is a little hard to process that I AM IN AFRICA!!! Anyways I love you all and will talk again soon.

Oh yeah, we were sitting on the picnic tables outside the hostel and a monkey was throwing poo and nuts down on us, pretty hilarious. I figured some of you all would like that.

Dubai is awesome

Pictures to come. I made it to Dubai and the flight was crazy. Took Emirates Airlines and it was about twelve hours to Dubai. There was a t.v. for each seat and watched some family guy and national treasure 2. I met the group. Different people from all over the country but all really laid back and cool. We got to Dubai and went out right away to the mall of the Emirates. I went snowboarding in the middle of the desert at the indoor snowboard park. I have pictures, it is crazy hilarious. I talked about that place so much with the kids and I got to do it. It was pretty cool. Right now, just sitting in the airport waiting to fly to Entebbe and get to Uganda. This is all so exciting and a whirlwind. Have not slept yet really but i have so much energy. Dubai is really westernized, as they continue to build 30% of all the cranes in the world are in Dubai and you can tell as they just keep building. Saw the Burj al Arab hotel where Tiger Woods drove balls off the helipad. This is all so surreal but great. I will post the pictures soon and get into it all more when I get to Uganda but just wanting to get one in on the run.

For the less geographically knowledgable, here is where I am going to in Africa.  I will actually be in Atanga, near Gulu, which is just above the G of Uganda on the map.

Hey all. This is the first of many blogs that I hope you guys will take a look at as I travel to Africa this summer and experience all that there is to offer in Uganda. For those that do not know I will be going to Uganda this summer with Invisiblechildren.com as part of their teacher exchange program. I applied for the position in November and went through an interview process and was lucky enough to be one of roughly thirty people chosen to be a part of the program. The program is in the second year and looks to be an experience that I will never forget.

The website for the group is www.invisiblechildren.com. To give you a little insight, I will be teaching geography in the northern part of Uganda, outside the city of Gulu. For years there has been war and violence throughout the region, where the people of the region have been displaced into refugee camps and in some instances, the children have been force to fight in the conflict. Recent attempts at peace have allowed the opportunity for myself to go to the region and help educate the children of Northern Uganda as they attempt to bring back some normalcy to their lives.

I am super excited and I will add to this as much as possible with pictures and some words to try to explain this amazing experience that I will have. Before I even get going I want to thank all the people that allowed me to have this experience. Of course my dad and Deb for giving me the character to see the bigger picture in the world, my friends for being excited and telling me that I can do some good in this world, the people of Waubonsie for their monetary and emotional support ( you guys are my second family), and finally the kids I teach everyday. They are my inspiration and guiding light that drive me to educate and take an active role in the world.

I am sorry this is a long post but I needed to leave a foundation for what should be an amazing adventure. June 21 is getting close, and I will get back to you all then.